Why I Serve Alateen
Shortly after the World Service Conference adopted the initial Alateen Safety and Behavioral Requirements policy, I attended an Area Assembly where I heard about what it took to become a certified Al‑Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS).
Some Ins and Outs of Group Banking and Financial Accounts
Group funds may be handled in various ways, in accordance with each group’s conscience. Some groups may use a cash method, while others have simple savings accounts from which they replenish reloadable debit cards. Still others choose to
Avoiding Double-Headed Management on Social Media
Growing up, I was often tasked with chores nobody else wanted to do, many of which required manual labor outdoors in the middle of the desert. I remember being hot and miserable for days on end without any
Facing in the Right Direction
I was suicidal when I arrived at my first Al‑Anon meeting. My all-or-nothing thinking had me boxed into only one answer for the pain I was experiencing. I saw no other way out. As I’ve said many times
Dancing in the Rain
My journey toward the spiritual life I’ve found in Al‑Anon began when I was a young child growing up in an alcoholic family. But I didn’t start down this road to recovery until halfway through my life, when
A Valentine for My Dad
One of the gifts of Al‑Anon, for me, has been that I’ve gained the ability to see my loved ones who suffer from alcoholism with “new eyes”—to see their positive qualities, not just their defects. My father was one
A Welcoming Tradition
Attracting and welcoming newcomers to Al‑Anon is so important. We have all experienced our first Al‑Anon meeting: the nervousness, frustration, embarrassment, and annoyance. My first recollection is being put at ease as soon as I entered the room.
How I Can Help My Children
When I first walked into an Al‑Anon meeting, there was a member at the door who smiled and offered me a hug. I felt so welcome. After they opened the meeting by reading from The Twelve Steps and
I Can’t Do This Alone Anymore
It was a normal, nice day. Things seemed to be going so well—until it happened. Not again! I thought. This time, I called my husband, crying, feeling so overwhelmed, lost, and confused. Part of me was so angry,
Happiness Is Here and Now
I came to Al‑Anon years ago looking for tips on how to fix my alcoholic husband. I got a big surprise when you told me that I could only fix me. I am so glad that I stayed
Your Group Services Team Talks Rotation of Service
Being introduced to service positions as newcomers helped us to feel part of the group at a time when we might otherwise have found it difficult to connect with others. For some of us, the simple contribution of
Reaching Out to My Daughter with Kindness
When life throws me another curveball, like my alcoholic daughter having a baby, I start obsessing about how to fix her before the baby is born. To break out of this pattern of thinking, I go to Al‑Anon